Process and apparatus for wash-and-wear finishing of woven cloths,knitted goods or fiber fleeces of cellulose fibers



July 14, 1970 c. A. ME1ER-WINDHORST 3,520,069

PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR WASH-ANDWEAR FINlSHING OF WOVEN CLOTHS, KNITTED GOODS OR FIBER FLEECES OF CELLULOSE FIBERS Filed Jan. 29, 196e 2 sheets-sheet 1 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS July 14, 1970 c. A. MExER-WINDHORST 3,520,069

PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR WASH-AND-WEAR FINlSHING OF WOVEN CLOTHS, KNITTED GOODS OR FIBER FLEECES OF CELLULOSE FIBERS Filed Jan. 29, 1968 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 O MIN 'wvl INVENTOR ATTORNEYj United States Patent O "lee 3,520,069 PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR WASH-AND- WEAR FINISHING F WOVEN CLOTHS, KNITTED GOODS OR FIBER FLEECES 0F CELLULOSE FIBERS Christian August Meier-Windhorst, Heidenkampsweg 66, Hamburg, Germany Filed Jan. 29, 1968, Ser. No. 717,481 Int. Cl. F2613 7/00 U.S. Cl. 34-17 11 Claims ABSTRACT 0F THE DISCLOSURE Textile fabrics and fieeces of cellulose fibers are treated by a continuous process producing creaseless, no-iron permanent shrinkage or water-repellent finishing. The process includes a combined steaming and drying treatment of an impregnated fabric in superheated steam at atmosphere pressure, heating the fabric at a temperature ranging between 140 C. and 170 C. and then subjecting the fabric in dry condition to a dry heat treatment.

The invention relates to a process for use in wash-andwear finishing, particularly the creaseless, no-iron, permanent shrinkage or water-repellent finishing of woven cloth, knitted goods or fiber fleece material of cellulose fibers, as well as to an apparatus suitable for carrying out this process.

Numerous suggestions have been made already for the wash-and-wear finishing process of textile goods. In almost all cases the textile material is impregnated with a chemical which, when exposed to a certain heat-treatment, in the structure of its molecules forms so-called bridges or which in the molecule structure of the fibers results in so-called cross-links. In this connection two processes were developed. In the first one the textile material impregnated with the processing agent and then dried is again exposed to another heat-treatment preferably in hot air. In the so-called cross-link process, subsequent to the application of the cross-linking product and to the drying, a catalyst, usually an acid, is additionally applied on the textile goods in another impregnating operation and the cross-linking is effected in a wet condition either on a long-time process of several hours at low temperatures or in a short-time process of appr. 1-2 minutes at ternperatures of the textile goods of appr. 100 C.

Processes have also become known where a pure wet processing and a drying process are done in tandem operation; furthermore, simplified processes were employed, where a normal drying operation, that means drying in hot air, is combined with a heat-treatment process, also in hot air, in and at this stage dry condition of the textile goods.

An object of the present invention is to combine in an effective and specifically manifold way the. preferred effects of all processing elements hitherto applied, which means heat-treatment in wet condition in steam, a certain heat-treatment during the drying at the end of the drying operation by an already proposed favourable method in superheated steam and, in particular, to ensure a satisfactory reproducibility of the desired process result. In addition, an apparatus shall be created which is not complicated and safe in operation,

The solution of this objective was based on the concept that it is not practical to consider independently of each other the hitherto applied elements of the process of wet heat-treatment and of dry heat-treatment, but to employ a processing method in which a specific form of wet heattreatment is directly combined with a specific form of dry heat-treatment. The solution producing a surprisingly 3,520,069 Patented July 14, 1970 favourable process result was found by combining a steam-wet-treatrnent, a drying and a dry heat-treatment in a way such that, directly after the padding with the last processing agent in medium or highly superheated steam (1Z0-150 C.) at normal atmospheric pressure, the textile goods impregnated with the processing agent and a possible catalyst are first subjected to a combined steaming and drying process at temperatures on the goods under process of appr. C., or at lower heat-transfer efliciencies and thus more extended wet processing and drying times of 20L-100 seconds and, thereafter, or in a certain overlapping with it in a second phase of the entire heat-treatment process are subjected to a dry heat-treatment, preferably again in superheated steam, by heating up to a temperature of -170" C. in at last fully dried condition at preferably uniform temperature of the goods.

The reason why the first part of the heat-treatment being a combined steaming and drying is exceptionally effective is because the steam of the processing medium, especially at the beginning, 'by condensing the condensation product on the goods under process, during the quick heating-up with steam of a high moisture content is developed from the goods under process themselves (steam in status nascendi). Of equal importance, however, is the interaction of this part of the process with the directly following dry heat-treatment in superheated steam, as in this way an essential part of the cross-linking effect is produced.

`Considering the fact that with the described process a combination of specially high wet crease recovery with very high dry crease recovery results, it can be assumed that one part of the process is responsible for the high wet crease recovery and the other part for the high dry crease recovery.

It has proven to be of benefit to form the first part of the drying following the saturating with a processing medium at respective splitting in two ranges as a migration-excluding radiation drying. Heating to high temperatures in the dry heat-treatment up to 15G-200 C. is

referably done with heat-transfer figures exceeding 50 Kcal./m.2. C. h. and at characteristics highly asymptotically approaching the processing temperature of the dry heat-treatment. Here, heated cylinder faces can serve for the heating, or a convection heating with highly increased flow velocity of the processing medium on the surfaces of the textile goods under process can be selected, or the heating can be done by means of a convective flow heating on suction-drums.

In a specially favourable development of the invention, the dry heat-treatment in the wash-and-wear finishing of blends of cellulose fibres with fully synthetic fibers can be combined with fiber heat-setting of the fully synthetic fibers by selecting respectively high processing temperatures (ISO-200 C.). Moreover, it has proven to be of benefit to complete the heat-treatment process of fiber heat-setting by a quick cooling-down to preferably below 50 C. Textile goods in the form of web cloth, knitted goods or fiber fleeces can be stretched in width during part of the reaction process or during its entire course.

An apparatus for carrying out the process described may for example be constructed in such a way that a processing chamber preferably with insulated common housing is provided with zones for the steaming and drying treatment, for the heat and for the dry-heat-treatment. In the zone of the combined steaming and drying treatment and/or of the heating, devices are provided for an improved heat-transfer resp. quicker heating-up with heat-transfer figures exceeding 50 Kcal./m.2. C. h. at heat-up characteristics which highly asymptotically approach temperature ultimate values, such as heating cylinders, circulating fans with nozzles or heating-suction drums. In the zone of the dry heat-treatment, devices are provided for maintaining an even temperature on the textile goods under process or a determined curve of temperature, such as circulating systems for the processing medium. The processing chamber, when assigning the iirst part of the heating-up to the zone of the combined steaming and drying treatment, and the second part of the heating-up to the zone of the dry heat-treatment, is equipped in two zones with separate heating systems, such as a system of heating cylinders, a circulating system with nozzles, or a system of heating suction drums. It has proven to be practical, particularly for guiding the textile goods, namely web cloth, knitted fabrics or liber eeces, through the processing chamber, and for the tensioning in width to use width-stretching chains.

The invention will appear more clearly from the following detailed description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIG. l is a View, by way of example, of a universal apparatus for carrying out the process of the present invention and FIG. 2 is a schematic view of an apparatus where the textile goods are guided on tentering chains.

Principal item of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 is an insulated housing with diierent processing zones, namely, the heating zone 34 for the condensation-heating, the evaporation-drying zone 30 and the dry heat-treatment zone 31. From the drawing it is obvious that a treatment medium circuit is provided for the dry treatment and another treatment medium circuit for the heating-up and the dwelling process. Both circuits are provided with circulating fans 29, forcing the medium through nozzle bodies 24 on to the cloth strand 18. At the inlet and outlet of the insulated housing there are seal-shaped passages which are connected to a sucking-off device 35 so that above all air is prevented from entering the housing and the treatment medium is prevented from escaping into the room.

For carrying out the process in accordance with the invention, the cloth strand 18 is fed, for example, from batch 27 either via a specific widening scaffold 26 in case of delicate goods, or in simpler cases via an expander, into an impregnating padder 22. The impregnated goods can then be guided possibly through a predryer 17, and a pendulum roller 28 to the tension controlling. Through the inlet 15 connected with sucking-off device 35, the cloth strand 18 enters the housing 10` in which it is subjected in the heating zone 34 to condensation-heating to 100 C. in a known way. The strand then enters the evaporation-drying zone 30, where it is exposed to superheated steam of normal atmospheric pressure, which is forced on to the cloth strand by fans 29 through nozzle bodies 24. In this zone a heat-treatment is eiected with intense steam generation from the material under process at an essentially constant temperature of the material of 100 C. Hence, some kind of evaporation-drying takes place contrary to normal evaporation-drying.

In the subsequent dry heat-treatment 31 the processing medium also is superheated steam at normal atmospheric pressure. In this zone the textile strand `which slowly becomes dry is heated to a specific ultimate processing temperature, selectively approximately between 140 and 170 C. and, ultimately, is exposed to an extended dwelling treatment at said temperature. After completion of the treatment the cloth strand 18 leaves the housing 10 through opening 15 and is fed into a cooling zone 19, from where it is wound on a batch 27 over Winder 32 or, selectively, plaited down over plaiter 33.

In accommodation to changing operating requirements it may be practical to provide the fans 29 with different speed settings and also with separate heating controls.

FIG. 2 is a schematic View of an apparatus, which permits a variation of the process of this invention. The apparatus is preferably suitable for knitted goods and heavy articles, particularly heavy blends. Also here, the essential items of the processing device are housed in a common insulated housing 10 comprising drying zone 11, heating zone 12, dwelling zone 13 and a fiber heat-setting zone 14. At the inlet a seal-shaped passage 15 is provided which also here may be connected to a sucking-efrf device which is not shown here, through which the cloth strand 18 coming from an impregnating padder 22 and guided over tentering machine inlet 23 on tentering chains 21 enters the housing.

In the described processing device, a zone for a radiation-shock-heating 16 is provided between the heating zone 12 and the dwelling zone 13. In the extended feed end in front of the housing a radiation predryer 17 can be provided for impregnations which are highly sensitive to migration. Moreover, subsequent to the cloth strand 18 leaving housing 10 a cooling zone 19 can be provided with subsequently attached cutting device 20 and pinningoff.

In the example shown, the cloth strand 18 is kept on tentering chains 21 by pin links and low pitch for tier operation at low diameter of the return rollers 25 and is fed through the processing device.

For keeping constant the temperatures resp. for corrections of the temperature, nozzle systems 24 can be provided in the dwelling zone 13, which are connected with respective circulating devices for the processing medium.

EXAMPLE 1 A cloth strand of viscose spun rayon material is impregnated on a finishing padder in a solution of G./l. A substituted propyleneurea (50% solution) 100 An alkoxyalkylcarbamate An aqueous plastic resin dispersion on polyacrylate base 30 An aqueous plastic resin dispersion on polyethylene base 30 Magnesium chloride, cryst. 50

and is then squeezed-off to approximately 65% nal moisture. Thereafter, the strand is dried in a steam-air mixture, steam content approximately 90% by volume, at a temperature of C. down to 10% final moisture. Ultimately, a polymerizing in a steam-air mixture, steam content approximately 90% by volume, at a temperature of C. takes place for a period of 2 to 3 minutes.

EXAMPLE 2 Cotton is impregnated on a nishing padder in a solution of G./l. A substituted propyleneurea (50% solution) 150 An aqueous plastic resin dispersion on polyacrylate base 30 An aqueous plastic resin dispersion on polyethylene base 25 A polyamide derivative 15 Magnesium chloride, cryst. 30

Thereafter, the cloth is squeezed-off to a moisture content of approximately 65%. The subsequent drying down to a final moisture of approximately 6% is eifected in pure steam at 130 C. and normal atmospheric pressure. The polymerizing is likewise done in pure steam at 160 C., i.e. for a period of approximately 2 to 3 minutes.

What I claim is:

1. Process for continuous creaseless, no-iron, permanent shrinkage or water-repellent finishing of fabrics, knitted goods or fiber fleeces of cellulose fibers, in which the textile goods impregnated with one or several processing media are first subjected to a combined steaming and drying treatment in superheated stem at atmospheric pressure, thereafter, respectively at a certain overlapping With it, they are exposed to heating at a temperature of 140 to 170 C. and, ultimately, in dried condition, to a dry heat-treatment at preferably uniform teinperature of the material.

2. Process in accordance with claim 1, in which the first part of the drying after the impregnation with a processing medium at respective splitting in two ranges is designed as migration-excluding radiation drying.

3. A process for the continuous creaseless, no-iron, permanent shrinkage or water-repellent finishing of fabrics and fiber eeces of cellulose fibers, comprising subjecting an impregnated fabric to a combined steaming and drying treatment in superheated steam at atmospheric pressure, heating the fabric at a temperature ranging between 140 C. and 170 C. and then subjecting the fabric in dried condition to a dry heat treatment, wherein the heating is effected to the higher temperatures of the dry heat-treatment with heat-transfer figures exceeding 50 Kcal./m.2. C. h. and at characteristics highly asymptotically approaching the processing temperature of the dry heat treatment.

4. Process in accordance with claim 3, in which in the washand wear-finishing of blends of cellulose fibers with fully synthetic fibers the dry heat-treatment is combined with fiber heat-setting of the fully synthetic fibers by using respectively higher processing temperatures (180 to 200 C.).

5. Process according to claim 4, in which quick cooling-down of the processed textile goods to below 50 C. is provided immediately subsequent to the fiber heatsetting.

6. Process in accordance with claim S in which the textile goods preferably in the form of web cloth, knitted goods or fiber iieeces is tensioned in width during part of the processing course or during its entire course.

7. Device for carrying-out the process in accordance with claim` 6, in which a processing chamber preferably having a common insulated housing is provided with zones for the steaming and drying treatment, for the heating-up and for the dry heat-treatment.

8. Device in accordance with claim 7, in which provisions are made in the zone of the combined steaming and drying treatment and/or of the heating for higher heat-transfer figures respectively for quick heating-up with heat-transfer figures exceeding Kcal./m.2. C. h. and with a heating characteristic highly asymptotically approaching a temperature ultimate value, such as heating cylinders, circulating fans with nozzles or heating suctiondrums.

9. Device in accordance with clairn 7, in which provisions are made in the zone of the dry heat-treatment to maintain an even temperature on the processed textile goods or a determined temperature curve, such as circulating systems for the processing medium.

10. Device in accordance with claim 7, in which the processing chamber, when assigning the first part of the heating-up to the zone of the combined steaming and drying treatment and the second part of the heating to the zone of the dry heat-treatment, shall in two zones be equipped with separate heating systems, such as a system of heating cylinders, a circulating system with nozzles or with a system of heating suction drums.

11. Device in accordance with claim 10, in which tentering chains serve for guiding the textile goods in the form of web cloth, knitted fabrics or fiber fleeces through the processing chamber and for the tentering in width.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,441,992 5/ 1948 Converse 8--149.3 2,934,400 4/ 1960 Siggel et al. 8-149.3 3,197,896 8/1965 Fleissner 34-115 3,396,415 8/ 1968 Windhorst 8-149.3

FOREIGN PATENTS 667,210 2/ 1952 Great Britain.

LLOYD L. KING, Primary Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R. 34-23, 115, 152 

